Portuguese newspaper Record report on Saturday that Manchester City have secured the signing of Ederson, and it could be completed ‘in the next few days’.
Movement is expected just after the Portuguese cup final, which marks the end of Benfica’s season. Benfica face Vitoria on Sunday, in a match they’re very much expected to win, and it would complete a domestic double for the side.
Ederson has been excellent for Benfica this season, and has been linked with Manchester City for the entire campaign. Pep Guardiola had praised the 23 year old whilst still Bayern Munich manager and that, inevitably, led to repeat claims of interest.
Record say Manchester City and Benfica have been in talks for some time, but those talks have made ‘significant advances’ recently.
The player’s price is difficult. Ederson has a €60m buyout clause at Benfica, but Rio Ave are due 50% of any transfer fee. Record explain that, making it even more complicated, Gestifute are due 20% of anything Rio Ave receive.
The two clubs have been trying to sort this situation out for a while, so Ederson can leave for less, but Gestifute will obviously have a big say.
And who is behind Gestifute? Jorge Mendes of course, who has just completed Bernardo Silva to Manchester City, and who is expected to play a wider role in the club’s recruitment this summer.
Manchester United have been strongly linked to Ederson recently, but their interest has been entirely dependent on selling David De Gea, and they’re hardly likely to push him out if there’s a chance of the Spaniard staying. In that respect, Manchester City would have the advantage of being able to move early.
